This was his last USYNT cap, with the U15s in June 2016 in Croatia. Obviously wearing the 10. (Lineup also included Las, Bello, Reyna, Stroud, Busio, Fuentes.) He joined Mexico U15s in September 2016. I don't believe there was another US U15 camp in between that time. So the supposed falling-out incident between Alvarez and Dave van den Bergh, if true, seemingly happened during this camp in Croatia.

He's not going to be with our U20s this cycle. That is not in the equation. He's playing with Mexico at the U17 World Cup, and then his options should be open after that for him to basically make his final decision on where he wants to play (even if his cap tying event is still a little ways off). I agree that the U20 talent pool might be enticing for him, but that is for the long term, not for the U20 World Cup.

He's not going to be with our U20s this cycle. That is not in the equation. He's playing with Mexico at the U17 World Cup, and then his options should be open after that for him to basically make his final decision on where he wants to play (even if his cap tying event is still a little ways off). I agree that the U20 talent pool might be enticing for him, but that is for the long term, not for the U20 World Cup.

He's committed to playing for Mexico at the U17 World Cup. He's repeated this over and over. Nothing is happening until after that.

Someone on another thread even mentioned that there is a formal contract between the FMF and the Alvarez family stating that he will play for them at the U17 World Cup.

Also, Tab is not one to bring in a player who has not been part of the pool at the last minute.

There is absolutely no way he plays for the US U20s this summer, and I don't have to be Tab Ramos' best friend to understand that.

He should certainly be a top priority for USSF, but they should respectfully allow him to play for Mexico this summer as he has chosen and continue to excel with LA. They should put the full court press on after the U17 World Cup, and hopefully his time in MLS and LA's willingness to play him now and facilitate a big deal for him to get to Europe in a couple of years time will only endear him to the US program.

He should certainly be a top priority for USSF, but they should respectfully allow him to play for Mexico this summer as he has chosen and continue to excel with LA. They should put the full court press on after the U17 World Cup, and hopefully his time in MLS and LA's willingness to play him now and facilitate a big deal for him to get to Europe in a couple of years time will only endear him to the US program.

Hopefully not. But there is at least one major difference between Efra and Jonathan Gonzalez: Efra is playing in MLS, whereas Gonzalez plays in Liga MX. Gonzalez is gone. There is still a chance Efra comes back. The U20 World Cup will have no influence over that, however.

Someone on another thread even mentioned that there is a formal contract between the FMF and the Alvarez family stating that he will play for them at the U17 World Cup.

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I've never heard of anything like that. What does that kind of contract look like and is it enforceable? assuming that it is even true.

“I'm not closing the door on anyone. I could still play for the U.S. or I could keep playing for Mexico. But I'm with Mexico right now and that's my focus,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez made one youth national team appearance for the United States — the country of his birth — in 2016. He scored in a 2-0 win over Uruguay for the U.S. U15s.

Then, according to Alvarez, “Something happened with the U.S., and then Mexico came knocking on my door, and I tried it and I liked it there.”

What was that something? In an interview with Soccer America, Alvarez’s club coach Mike Muñoz said that Alvarez was confoundingly dropped from a U.S. camp, which caused enough of a rift between the two sides for Mexico to take advantage.

“With U.S. Soccer, Efra was dropped from the camp for whatever reason,” Muñoz said in a story published in late May. “I don't know if there was a collective decision from U.S. Soccer. ... Unfortunately when he was dropped, Mexico came knocking at the door and has been there ever since.”

The quality of these US U20's could be tempting for him. If every U20 is released and sent to the U20's instead of the full team would he still be a call up?

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Weah, Adams, Sargent, Durkin, Amon werent available for qualifying. Who am I missing?

I dont see any of them impacting the attacking mid spot. Alvarez was more prolific in USL last year than the competition. It is still early in the season, but he had more impact than Pomykal last night. Gio is out with a knee injury and Lletget has an undisclosed injury so Efra likely to continue to get minutes.

I'd think his skill set will translate well at a higher level. He will have an adjustment period, but he looked he belonged last night. I vaguely recall him having a mis-touch and slipping early on but settled in nicely.

He should have had many more assists last year and should have had some of his softer goals saved.

Weah, Adams, Sargent, Durkin, Amon werent available for qualifying. Who am I missing?

I dont see any of them impacting the attacking mid spot. Alvarez was more prolific in USL last year than the competition. It is still early in the season, but he had more impact than Pomykal last night. Gio is out with a knee injury and Lletget has an undisclosed injury so Efra likely to continue to get minutes.

This was his last USYNT cap, with the U15s in June 2016 in Croatia. Obviously wearing the 10. (Lineup also included Las, Bello, Reyna, Stroud, Busio, Fuentes.) He joined Mexico U15s in September 2016. I don't believe there was another US U15 camp in between that time. So the supposed falling-out incident between Alvarez and Dave van den Bergh, if true, seemingly happened during this camp in Croatia.

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That's a hell of a lineup.

I remember reading (though could be wrong) it had something to do with Alvarez joking around a lot, when the US coaches wanted more seriousness.

if that was the case, then that's nobodies fault really. a real grey area issue.

You cant blame a kid for not being Richie Williams reincarnated, but at the same time, from a coaches perspective, you have to show the young players that the sport at the highest levels is cut-throat and you have to be focused 24/7 or you will wind up with wasted talent like Brek Shea.

So this could all be about a 14-year old switching on spite and USSF not thinking he would do it after giving him the armband and #10 shirt.

And him switching on a situation like above (if it was true) is good news compared to him switching on his own with no conflict , because it would have meant he wanted to play for mexico all along.

Switching after an incident, is more like getting even as a 14-year old and not because you wanted to play for Mexico more.

Oh and his father wanted him to play for Mexico. 14 -year olds can be easily influenced.

Saw Hercules Gomez on some ESPN bit said Mexico sources have said he'll be with them for the Gold Cup. Seems like this could end quickly if he accepts, and maybe a good sign for US if he's not on that team, as it shows maybe he's considering his options.

Saw Hercules Gomez on some ESPN bit said Mexico sources have said he'll be with them for the Gold Cup. Seems like this could end quickly if he accepts, and maybe a good sign for US if he's not on that team, as it shows maybe he's considering his options.

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Because Mexico realizes the situation. You have a world-class level talent that is 50/50 on who he is going to play for and we are more focused on hyping Michael Bradley as the "future".